Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Nov 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Qom
For one person, living is cheaper in Qom: $436 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $15,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Qom actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $436 in Qom, rent included.
Medellin $1,692
Qom $436
A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $847 in Qom, rent included.
Medellin $2,471
Qom $847
A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $1,257 in Qom, rent included.
Medellin $3,249
Qom $1,257
😐
Medellin costs about 288% more than Qom, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Qom is 68% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Qom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34COP 26.9K
$3.05$3.05
173.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53COP 150.1K
$15.89$15.89
192.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.47COP 30.6K
$3.91$3.91
142.20%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.52$0.52
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.48$1.48
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 10.1K
$1.01$1.01
209.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77COP 5,700
$0.41$0.41
331.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42COP 4,597
$1.73$1.73
-17.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15COP 10.2K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70COP 18.4K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Qom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53COP 4,946
$0.53$0.53
188.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.29COP 7,394
$0.62$0.62
269.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.94COP 6,276
$1.70$1.70
14.12%
Eggs
$3.07COP 9,895
$1.02$1.02
200.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.99COP 32.2K
$2.81$2.81
255.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.45COP 33.7K
$3.13$3.13
233.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.96COP 45.0K
$7.45$7.45
87.38%
Apples(1kg)
$4.05COP 13.1K
$0.79$0.79
412.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,932
$1.46$1.46
4.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10COP 6,791
$0.99$0.99
112.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29COP 7,402
$0.47$0.47
387.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11COP 6,807
$0.47$0.47
348.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71COP 5,515
$0.43$0.43
297.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,776
$0.26$0.26
350.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 5,099
$0.26$0.26
507.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.77$0.77
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.47$0.47
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.48$1.48
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91COP 12.6K
$1.22$1.22
220.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.04COP 45.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76COP 5,685
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71COP 8,752
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Qom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,807
$0.17$0.17
594.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.3COP 246.2K
$14.48$14.48
426.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.81COP 5,831
$0.26$0.26
596.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,871
$0.25$0.25
752.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.13COP 26.2K
$1.02$1.02
697.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28COP 4,115
$0.08$0.08
1500.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KCOP 111.1M
$50.7K$50.7K
-32.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KCOP 110.1M
$46.1K$46.1K
-25.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Qom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178COP 573.5K
$12.79$12.79
1289.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89COP 44.8K
$1.27$1.27
993.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74COP 99.2K
$3.97$3.97
674.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Qom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.94COP 135.4K
$8.60$8.60
387.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80COP 54.2K
$9.86$9.86
70.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47COP 24.1K
$0.98$0.98
662.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Qom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$790COP 2.5M
$108$108
629.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3KCOP 39.7M
$2,623$2,623
368.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Qom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3COP 278.6K
$15.29$15.29
464.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3COP 191.2K
$12.99$12.99
356.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 446.4K
$100$100
37.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8COP 318.9K
$49.43$49.43
99.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Qom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,341COP 4.3M
$237$237
465.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$667COP 2.2M
$160$160
317.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,976COP 6.4M
$578$578
241.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,033COP 3.3M
$573$573
80.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,098COP 13.2M
$885$885
362.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,940COP 6.3M
$611$611
217.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Qom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$646COP 2.1M
$216$216
199.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
20.33
-46.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026
Last update for Qom: October 31, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667 39.4%
Qom
$160 36.6% ↓ 76%$507
🛒Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307 18.2%
Qom
$94 21.6% ↓ 69.3%$213
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222 13.1%
Qom
$18 4.1% ↓ 91.9%$204
🍽Eating Out
Medellin
$173 10.2%
Qom
$57 13% ↓ 67%$116
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172 10.2%
Qom
$80 18.4% ↓ 53.5%$92
🚌Getting Around
Medellin
$93 5.5%
Qom
$17 3.8% ↓ 82.2%$77
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57 3.4%
Qom
$11 2.4% ↓ 81.4%$46
🏠Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$1K 31.8%
Qom
$573 45.6% ↓ 44.5%$460
🛒Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$705 21.7%
Qom
$231 18.4% ↓ 67.3%$474
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$236 7.3%
Qom
$19 1.5% ↓ 91.8%$217
🍽Eating Out
Medellin
$572 17.6%
Qom
$191 15.2% ↓ 66.6%$381
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$383 11.8%
Qom
$178 14.2% ↓ 53.5%$205
🚌Getting Around
Medellin
$189 5.8%
Qom
$34 2.7% ↓ 82.2%$156
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$131 4%
Qom
$31 2.5% ↓ 76.3%$100
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $237 in Qom. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries in Medellin are about 3 times higher, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $16 in Qom. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $94 – making Qom the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Qom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Qom cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 288%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $655 in Qom. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Qom, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $237 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Qom?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $16 in Qom. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Qom?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $436 in Qom. That makes Qom about 74% cheaper.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Qom?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Qom, where all-in costs run around $436, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Qom it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Qom more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Qom – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Qom. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.